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Thursday, 31 July 2008

DH dragged me out fencing this morning........I had planned bookwork but he had other ideas..........so to keep him motivated I went along to help..........it is a beautiful sunny day here just a little cool.........here are some supplies/tools........my gloves are essential.......

a couple of hours later we had some more flood destroyed fence replaced..........dh's punishment for taking me out with him is me taking the camera and he is getting better at "amusing himself" while I flip off and take pics.........

we were fencing down at the creek and there are some "AMAZING" big old gums down there...........I layed on the ground for this one..........things look so different..........try it........

there was this big hole in this broken limb..........I wanted to know what was in there so though I would take some pics and finally got brave enought to hold my arm in quite far and get these pics.........thank goodness nothing flew out.........or crawled out..........lol.......

There are lots of birds down the creek and I caught this Cookatoo and a pair of Gulars...........so many different bird sounds while there.......

the bark..........

more playing...........

Hope you like these pics...........it has been awhile since I have had a post like this............I missed it..........

Tuesday, 29 July 2008

I am back again and now I have the pics of what I got up to at Nundle at The Cottage on the Hill with Kerry...........it is just the best time............it is relaxing and wonderful to see everyone working on a different quilts and that they all are nearly finished or finished by the time you leave on Sunday afternoon............so nice to sit and sew with friends..........

You get totally spoilt and never cut anything while their .........Kerry does all the cutting............keeps you up to date with your directions and you don't even have to look at them..............makes for a very relaxing sewing weekend........as things have been a little busy in my life I wanted to make a very easy quilt where I didn't have to think very much at all...............Le Jardin............by Threads of Time is what I decided to make..............and I picked some very pretty soft fabrics............I had this finshed on Sunday morning.........

............so what to do then...............I felt like making a bag and I decided to make a bag from the Northcotts "Quest for a Cure" fabrics.............I used part of a charm pack and some other bits to make this bag..........the bag will be part of the display Sharon is organising which will be held in October...........Kerry has more fabrics and is keen to put some fabrics together if anyone wants to make something to that will go into this show..............there are prizes too if that is any incentive.............

looks like 2 different bags but it is just from one side to the other...............

I feel very lucky I have enjoyed 2 weekends at Nundle this year.................

Now it you are all in the Christmas spirit seeing the posts bloggers havehad in swaps and from their online groups this is something for you......... start it now for this Christmas.............

While at Kerry's I also got to see Mr Jolly Jingles (by Natalie) and the VintageChristmas cushions (by Janelle)...........they look fab........now if anyone wants a xmasproject head over to Kerry's.........

Why????&&--- The kits have everything you need except stuffing (very helpful whenyou live where I live)

&&--- you get 2 wonderful patterns (or you can just get one)&&---- there is a wonderful online site exclusive to girls with the kitsavailable for a little while to show you every step of the projects (justlike you are sitting there sewing with them) and the girls Kerry, Natalie orJanelle are only an email away if you have a problem but I got to look atthe online site and it is fantastic.........really great step by step picsshowing every part of the projects.......not sure you would even need thedirections in the kits......so if you are a beginner to advanced this isperfect&&---- and there was a bonus pattern in the other kits Kerry sent out somaybe you might be able to score one of those as a bonus too........

..........tell her you called in from myblog.........she would love to know

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And I also promise in the next few weeks the Secret Santa Christmas Swap for2008 will be starting up........so start thinking now if you want to join inor not...........all the details will come later - you can't sign up yet butI am sure it will fill quickly.........can I do 83 again........lol........

Monday, 28 July 2008

I have eaten, looked in the shops, eaten............chosen my quilt............eaten, drank, slept, eaten and sewn and eaten and sewn..........some more drinks and slept............more eating and sewing and generally had a wonderful time away............as I don't have pics yet of what i made you will have to wait..............thanks for all the lovely emails I received while away.........

I will firstly show you all my goodies from the private xmas ornament swap I did with blogless Fiona...........it was a direct swap...........firstly I will show what Fiona sent me......

.....these beautiful stitcheries to hang on my tree..........

this great Christmas bag.................and some fabrics and threads.................

this tiny little Santa was made by a friend of Fiona's............

this little plum pudding was made by Fiona's Mum and when she told her what she was doing her Mum wanted to include one.............it is very cute and has chocolates inside it................so thanks Fiona's Mum.............

I was totally spoilt by Fiona...............thanks.............this is my first xmas in July swap and would do it again.........was never really into Xmas in July but I sure am now............

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here are the little ornaments I made for Fiona.............the ric rac came from my Nan's sewing supplies.....so very special............and it was perfect for hanging the hearts.................

I also included some other bits and pieces but no pics..........sorry...........

Thursday, 24 July 2008

I'm off on a retreat weekend..............I always have a wonderful time with Kerry and will have a quilt top made when I return..........and I had better pack the extra woolies as it has been cold here so will be worse up in the hills..........

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

before you do all the below............find the picture you want (usually on someone elses blog) a swap logo etc ..............right click on the picture and save it to your desktop (easy to find and you can delete it later once added to your blog)

sign in --> from the dashboard--> layout --> page elements --> on the left click on add a gadget (edited used to say add a page element)

Now there are heaps of different things to add here...........we want to add a picture ...........(like a logo for a swap etc)

editthis has now changes to a list with different logos but same idea........

you can add a "title" and "caption" but I don't..........

"link" - I put the website in here where you want to picture to link to but you don't need to put something in here either..............

edit: like your swap organisers blog address, another blog etc

find the image on your computer (remember you saved it to you desktop)

make sure "shrink to fit" is ticked and "save" your setting as you exit................

Sunday, 20 July 2008

I decided to make a softy for a little niece......first she was going tohave a bear and then it was going to be a cow but when she came to visit theother day she saw Fairy Girls "fairy angel" and that is what she wanted......Then I had to make a pattern up.........very interesting..........and when Iwent to bed on Friday night I was cursing it but when I finished it upyesterday morning things went well and I was very excited to have been ableto work out a pattern and make it up myself.........with a few modificationsalong the way this is what I ended up with.......now the other niece wantsone.......with a few changes to make it easier for me......I will be braveenough to make another one......bit fiddly but she was worth it in theend....... does anyone have a quick easy way to turn the arms and legs out..........that was the worst bit for me...........

Thursday, 17 July 2008

Here is one of my treasures from the garage sale at my Nan's.............my nan died about 6 years ago and I am not sure when she used this last but I would say not in her last few years so this machine has not been used 8-10 years................so I managed to work out how to thread it and it still had a needle in it and a bobbin and off I went...............OH NO I thought not working...........it won't feed thru.............opps will help if the feed dogs are up not down...........lol...........then away she went...............beautiful............I have no other feet or manual............does anyone have this machine it is a Walton's Celestial Model 866..............apparently Waltons was a department store and this was badged for them............1970's I think..............

and in my recent shopping I found this very cool fabric .........little pigs all over it..........soooo cute..........

Well I enjoyed a nice quite day at home...........my sister came to visit and before and after I sat and watch some of the happenings in Sydney as part of World Youth Day.............this was a big day for the Pope after his long trip to Australia............so many people from throughout the world have come to be part of the pilgrimage........the atmosphere looks amazing and if I lived in Sydney I would go into the city and join in with some of the activities.........

Tuesday, 15 July 2008

To all you lurkers out there thinking I can't blog it is tooooo hard well check out this story in the paper today.......this lady died on Sat morning and she was 108 yrs old and a blogger..........since Feb last year........you can find her blog here and here..............just proving it is never to late to take up a new venture..........

Well I got this in the middle of all “crazyness” here but the last few nights I had a play and look what I made………this is the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Designer block of the month…………block one designed by Brenda Riddle………..love the colours in this one………..block two must be nearly here……………brilliant instructions…………..

and Peg I am counting this as 1 finish............lol...............I know you wanted whole quilts etc but with the time I have had lately this may be the only thing I get done................lol...........

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Oh and I signed up for Linda’s Bag Swap now………….yes Linda I am crazy………….but you have left us plenty of time to make it…..

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And on the lamb front 3 going really well, 1 died and I am sure another one will……………dam temperamental things they are…………thank goodness my kids are well tuned to the life cycle so no tears just a sad report and arguing over who was going to take it away………..and I have hardly had to feed them since the kids are still home on school holidays…………just some mixing milk………..

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Christmas in July.................

for all those Christmas lovers Kerry has the pics on her blog of the Christmas kits...............and if you think some of this may be to hard one of the Janelle, Natalie or Kerry will be available all the time.........and there are lots of extra pics for help...........head over and check them out now............they look great...........

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Man have I been busy since I last saw you lot...............as you saw here and here we had a massive frosty morning yesterday morning..........I know compared to snow it is nothing but as I barely get 10 frosts a year it was a huge shock............but at day break I was down at my grandparents house with some of my family getting all the stuff out for a garage sale.................can I just say "have a clean out now" .....there was so much stuff...........oh course I did get some more treasures and I will show you some later...........but after a very big day I came home and the postman had left me this wonderful parcel.............well I though Sharon Red Geranium Cottage has sent me my "Pay it Forward" - PIF..........yes well I was sort of right but Sharon was also making for me in Linda's Pincushion Swap which I didn't know so I got all these goodies.............

Some very cute little sticky notes, lollies, Mary Engelbreit cards........not sure how she parted with them..........unless she is trying to spread her addiction of Mary.........lol...........

Here is my PIF.........a mini quilt..........my first..........I will get a hanger onto it so I can put it up on my wall..............

And finally here are the pincushions..........yeh she is so good she made me 2 pincushions..........I am so lucky.........

Friday, 11 July 2008

I am a bit slow with these updates...........put them into my sewing stuff and kept forgetting to take pics and as there has not really been any sewing I keep forgetting them...........but finally I have some pics.............

Here is a siggy block from Gisela in Germany...........you try translating English and German on Babelfish and see how you go...........if someone could read both I am sure they would be having a laugh ...............but hey I have a block and I have to send one to Gisela now............

These came from Tildesquilts in Denmark...............it is Inklingo...............will have to follow her instructions here............thanks it will be fun to try this............

and here is a snippet of my pincushion for Linda's Swap............will have to wait until I know it has landed in blogland to show the full thing..............

Wednesday, 9 July 2008

You know you have been away from blogland for to long when you started to get "are you ok" emails.............(by the way much appreciated)........things are a little busy here but no more dramas thank goodness............well that is except for the freezing weather.........yeh I know we nothing to complain about, I don't get many frosts and it never snows but my goodness it was cold today and the wind was coming off snow............it's pretty cold for my part of the world............and they are saying tomorrow is supposed to we worse wind wise............think I will throw another peice of wood on the fire..............and stay inside.............

But tonight I watched the New Inventors again and guess what..............the adjustable quilting rulers won the peoples choice award................yippee and I have had some emails from people saying they have ordered one and someone already has one in the mail.............details are on my last post about it................

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Christmas in July - well cyber stitching was lots of fun..............if you enjoyed it or missed out and want to join in another online stitching thingy and you love Christmas well this is just for you..............go visit Kerry and see what it is all about.............looks fab and is available where ever you are.............Janelle Wind and Natalie Ross have designed wonderful projects..........remember Kerry organise the wonderful Girls Day in the Country and she also does Christmas in July at her shop but with it growing in numbers decided to offer it online.............if you are quick to join in someone will win and only pay 1/2 price for their workshop....................head here to sign up..........quick!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, 4 July 2008

Finally I have the photos of my beautiful presents from Margaret...........when you help someone out with supplies expecting nothing in return except "thanks" which I received, I was totally surprised when Margaret said she needed my address as she wanted to send something to me for my assistance..............well look what she has made............check out her blog she does lots of cross stitch, stitcheries, bags (blames me for that addition.......lol)

She has made a beautiful stitching bag for me with some of her beautiful cross stitch of a chook and my name Chookyblue on it also............so personalised I am honoured.........here are all the goodies............oh and it is all on blue dragonfly fabric..........someone is going to be jealous

Fairy Girl wants one with a fairy and her name on it now so will work on that for Christmas I think.........might have some time by then - can't belive it is July already.........

here is a close up of the chooky on the bag and you can see other chooks and birds in the big chooky........beautiful cross stitch............

Not only did I get the stitching bag but a pincushion (with cross stitch chooks) and a nifty round needle keeper............all matching..........

the some beautiful fabrics and hand dyed embroidery threads............

I have had a week I would prefer to forget and for this parcel to turn up now it made me smile and feel good..........thankyou Margaret

thanks to my regular commenters your emails have been appreciated and if I usually visit your blog and leave comments I have been but just not had time to comment..........

the lambs are going well........so far so good and school holidays start today so the kids can do some more of the feeding.........yippee I say...........

Thursday, 3 July 2008

The first change most new bloggers have to work out is how to make themselves "replyable"..........so that when you leave a comment on another blog that blogger can reply to your comments.............Lurline's Place this post is for you as you come thru and no reply (by the way like your blog too)

This has been updated for the new editor look...........
Go to your dashboard..............see in the top right corner it will have your blog name..............
Click on the little arrow beside your name

When you click on the little arrow the box below pops up.............
click on blogger profile...........

this it should be your profile page........

......click on the orange button on the top right corner.........

make sure you have "show my email address" ticked...........
you can check your email address where blog comments go to etc.

once you make sure this is ticked scroll down the bottom and click SAVE.............

Wednesday, 2 July 2008

I sent out an email to some Aussie girls regarding a TV program we have here in Australia called the New Inventors it wss on tonight.

Tonight they had a quilting invention...........the first ever for the show..........unfortunaley it was not the winner for the night but they do have a viewers choice so maybe you could head here the check out the ruler and most importantly vote............i don't think they realise how many quilters there are out there.............

............the winner will help save lives it was a scaffolding thing and there was also a horse stirrup.........they picked an invention that will SAVE lives............all the invetions were good but I think this ruler will save someones sanity which in turn will save there life like the rest of the inventions............lol.........

here is the website for the rulers............and if you want to buy some go here

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

well 4 turned into 5 and the kids were thrilled..........just wished i was as happy about it........all I can say is lucky they are sooooo cute ............thanks for all the offers of adoption..........shame you all live overseas..........and the support comments from those who have had poddy lambs............much appreciated

Meet Zap, Scar, Fluff and Danny (Buff not pictured).............this is there night box for now.........dh knew it was fatal (as poddies) when he came home the first day and the kids had already named them...........lol..........they can be such temperamental things but so far looks good........not such good news for some of the ewes but we won't go there...........

Now after a few days I would rather forget I got home from work about to rush around and feed all and grabbed the mail on the way in...............the only thing in the mail was a parcel for me all the way from Spain...............last year Sweet P did a stitchery swap.............I made this for Margaret A Sample in Stitches..........I started her addiction for bags and the swap confirmed her interest in stitchery which is now another addictions for her................recently I sent her a parcel of goodies and in return she made me some beautiful gifts..........no pics yet but I am just thrilled with what she sent me.......Chookyblue's own personalised stitchery bag and pincushion and more............love it.........

.....swaps certainly have made some longer lasting effects.........many friends ship have been made in the process.......

.....and while we are on the subject of swaps I had an email asking if the SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap) would be on again this year............yes it will but you have to wait awhile yet...........but don't worry there will be a big announcement.........I am already getting excited just thinking about it........obviously some of last years Santa's have started to think about this too.........well it was heaps of fun.......

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The happenings in the "chook shed" – sewing, photography, gardening, farming........Occasionally Fairy Girl, Boy Wonder (Bookworm) and Mr Chookyblue get a mention......addicted to starting new quilting/sewing projects just not so good at completing them........enjoy a "bubbles"......home school.........love to meet up with bloggers - old/new it is always a joyful time.......the common thread of sewing links us together.....
Also I post random photos on Snappy Friends www.snappyfriends.blogspot.com